Sanitary hen&#39;s nest



H. ERICKSON March ,10, 1931 SANITARY HE-N'S NEST Filed Jan. 10, 1929 [rial son Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE HILDOR ERICKSON, OF POCAIIONTAS, IOWA SANITARY nnns NEST This invention relates to hens nests and the general object of the invention is to provide a nest and a support therefor which is very simple and sanitary, easily cleaned and disinfected, which is entirely accessible for washin which is deep enough to hide the hen, and which is easily installed.

A further objectis to provide a nest and a support therefor so constructed that the nest may be readily removed from the support or readily put in place, and when in place is rigidly held against accidental displacement. 7

Another object is to provide a nest of this character which is made of metal, which may be readily nested with nests of the same character, and thus stored compactly.

My nest is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a face view of a hens nest constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the support therefor in elevation;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, the back wall of the support being in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the nest and support; and

Figure 4 is a section showing modified form of support.

By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the nest 10, which may be made of metal or thin wood, but is preferably made of metal such as galvanized iron, has three sides 11 and a bottom 12, the fourth side being en- J tirely open as at 13. It will be seen that the nest is rectangular in cross section, the lower end of the nest being smaller than the top of the nest. Preferably the nest at its lower end is about eight inches wide and nine inches deep and at its upper end it is eleven inches wide and eleven inches deep from front to rear. The height of the nest is, under ordinary circumstances, about ten and one-half inches. These dimensions, of course, may be varied and are only given so as to show the preferable proportions of the nest and that the nest has a downward and inwardly inclined front wall.

One support for the nest consists of a 1ongitudinally extending beam 14 or equivalent ported by means of vertical elements 16.

The rail 14 is a necessary feature but it may be supported from the wall A in any suitable manner.

In Figure 3, it will be noted that the nest is provided at its upper end with a bead 17 within which is disposed a wire 18, the bead and wire extending around three sides of the nest and the wire 18 extending across the open side of the nest at the top thereof. Thus the metallic nest is strengthened and the wire 18 forms means whereby the nest may be supported as will be later stated.

Where the rail 14 is used, the nests are to be disposed between the rail 14 and the wall A in the manner shown in Figure 2 so that the nest wedges'downward into place and the wall A constitutes the rear wall of the nest when the nest is in place The nests are not fastened or attached in place in any manner, but are only held by the rail 14. The nests may thus be readily lifted out of the space between the wall and the rail and as readily inserted, but when inserted, by reason of the angle of the front wall, are wedged in place. The rail 14 also serves as a perch upon which the hen may light when mounting to the nest.

I do not wish to be limited to the use of this rail inasmuch as the staples 19 may be used as shown in Figure 3 driven over the wire 18 and into the wall A. This is a preferable method of supporting the nest inasmuch as this permits the nest to be turned upward without removal so that its open side is down and the nest may be readily cleaned and then swung back again. It is an easy matter to drive the staples or remove them so that the nest is easily removed and this structure does away with the beam 14. In Figure 4 I have illustrated another method of supporting the nest consisting in the use of a bail 20, one for each nest attached at its rear end to the wall A, the nest being dropped behind this bail.

The advantages of this nest are as follows The nest when used with the bail 20 or with the cross bar 14 is readily removable by i i simply lifting the nest up out of engagement with the rail or the beam. Where the nest is hinged by means of the staples 19, the nest may be removed by simply Withdrawing the stables, a very easy matter. After being 'placed'in position, the nest cannot be accidentally displaced. The nest itself is sanitaryland is easily cleaned and disinfected owing to the fact that one side of the nest is outE-whiclnpermits its being easily emptied and makes it Very accessible for Washing. The nests may be placed close together or relatively far apart as desired, and'they are economical-in room,.inasmuch as they may be readily. nested for shipping or storing; I, f

The nest is .deep enoughtohideithe hen and being Wedge-shaped or being smaller at the bottom than at the .top, the straw packs in the bottom of the nest andiis. not easily scratched out. In busy laying seasons more nests may be placed in the chicken house and in fslackseasons part of the. nests may ,be ..2 5 readily removed. and packedaway.

, VVhatIclaimisl v Ina chickenhouse,-having a Wall, ahens nest rectangularin cross section and having tWoside Walls and a front Wall, the rear 'of the nest vbeing open, thenest having a bot tomwall the threenwalls at the 'top being beaded, a Wire inserted inisaid bead'a'nd eX- tending across the open rear endofthe nest adjacent its top and staples embracing said .35, wire andextending into. said wall whereby the nest may be turned-upward'to discharge the contents of the nest through the. open rear end thereof. i r 5 In testimony whereofI hereunto aflixmy 40 signature.

- v I HILDOR ERIGKSON. 

